[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 3 (Monday, January 20, 1997)]
[Page 48]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian Agreement on Hebron and an Exchange 
With Reporters

January 14, 1997

    The President. A few minutes ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu and 
Chairman Arafat called me to tell me that they have reached agreement on 
the Israeli redeployment in Hebron. This achievement brings to a 
successful conclusion the talks that were launched in Washington last 
September, and it brings us another step closer to a lasting, secure 
Middle East peace.
    Once again, the Israelis and the Palestinians have shown they can 
resolve their differences and help to build a brighter future for their 
children by finding ways to address each other's concerns. And once 
again, the forces of peace have prevailed over a history of division.
    Israel will promptly redeploy its troops. The parties will establish 
practical security arrangements to strengthen stability and improve 
cooperation. There will also be an agreed roadmap for further 
redeployment by Israel. The Palestinians have reaffirmed their 
commitments, including their commitment to fight terrorism.
    I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat for their 
leadership. King Hussein also deserves special recognition and gratitude 
for his work for peace. I also want to express my appreciation to 
President Mubarak for his support. Finally, let me thank Secretary 
Christopher, who worked on this all weekend long, and our United States 
team. And especially let me thank our Special Middle East Coordinator, 
Dennis Ross, who has worked so hard and so long to help conclude this 
agreement.
    Today's agreement is not an end in itself. Bringing its words to 
life will require active and continuous cooperation between Israeli and 
Palestinian officials. It will demand every effort to stop those who 
would choose confrontation over cooperation. In short, this is not a 
time to relax. It is a time to reinforce our commitment to peace.
    That's why it is so important that the Israelis and the Palestinians 
have agreed to continue to work on the remaining issues contained in 
their agreements. As they do, the United States will do all it can to 
help. We will do everything we can to build a just and durable peace, a 
peace that will mean a better life for Israelis, for Palestinians, for 
all the people of the Middle East.
    And now I'd like to ask Mr. Berger to come up here and give you the 
details from our perspective of what's happened over the last couple 
weeks.
    Q. Sir, if it took so long for this agreement to be worked out, sir, 
on a relatively minor point of redeploying troops in Hebron, what does--
is it a bad omen for the other unresolved issues that they now face?
    The President. No. I think it's a good omen, because--keep in mind 
this agreement was not just about the Hebron redeployment, it was about 
a timetable for further redeployment, it was about other arrangements 
that would shape their future working relationship. So this is--there's 
much more in this agreement now. And Mr. Berger can answer more 
questions about it.

Note: The President spoke at 8:27 a.m. in the Briefing Room at the White 
House. In his remarks he referred to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu 
of Israel; Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority; King 
Hussein I of Jordan; and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.